From Fall River to Los Angeles, giving the homeless a chance to find comfort

Friday

Mar 10, 2017 at 11:00 AMMar 10, 2017 at 11:45 AM

Linda Murphy Lifestyle Editor @HNFastFood

Sometimes it takes more than just money to solve a social issue, especially when it comes to one as complex as homelessness. Innovative ideas that have been turned into reality are making a difference locally, throughout the state, and across the country.

When people drive by Star Apartments, most have no idea that the stunning, architecturally designed building houses those who have been chronically homeless, said Anne Dobson, director of philanthropy and communications at Skid Row Housing Trust.

Designed by Michael Maltzan, one of California’s top architects, the $40 million Star Apartments is the shining cornerstone in Skid Row Housing Trust’s 30-year mission to house the homeless.

“Our intention is to build gorgeous buildings and that’s realized by our partnership with renowned architects,” said Dobson. “Our first goal is to give residents a deep sense of pride and a home they can be proud of. And second, we wanted to build beautiful buildings that are community assets; you drive by that part of the neighborhood you don’t realize you’ve just driven by housing for folk who are chronically homeless.”

Modular units containing 100 efficiency apartments jut into the Los Angeles skyline at varying heights and directions. At certain angles, sections appear to float over the streets of Skid Row, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. Community spaces encompassing 15,000 square-feet of open space encourage Star Apartment residents to socialize. On the ground floor, the Department of Health Housing for Health offices and a medical clinic are intended to provide the support the residents need to continue living on their own in the apartments. As opposed to providing temporary shelter, the pioneering approach of combining housing with support services is known as permanent supportive housing, said Dobson.

“Our measure of success is residents who have continued to stay housed long term,” said Dobson.

In order to comply with federal Housing and Urban Development funding, Dobson said Star Apartments and other Skid Row Housing Trust buildings are geared to the seriously ill, chronically homeless: those who have been homeless for an entire year or long stretches over three years. That includes those who have a disabling condition such as diabetes, mental illness or a chronic disability including drug or alcohol addiction.

“Housing is our number one life-saving intervention, but our work doesn’t end there,” said Dobson.

Employing a “housing first model,” their approach to ending homelessness is to take individuals who are homeless into housing with no barriers, unlike dry shelters that have sobriety requirements. “There’s no sobriety requirement. They don’t have to prove themselves and they can stay as long as they like,” said Dobson.

Residents sign a standard lease agreement and their rent payment is 30 percent of their monthly income, the remainder is subsidized through state and federal funds. The trust’s 26 buildings including Star Apartments contain 1,850 units for individuals and all operate on the housing first model. “Research has show that it’s really effective in creating housing stability for those who have been homeless for long periods of time,” said Dobson.

But not everyone agrees with the approach, she said, especially with letting residents continue to drink or use drugs, as long as they don’t pose a danger to other residents. Case workers take a “harm reduction” approach, she said, meeting residents “where they’re at” and offering solutions to reduce risky behavior.

The Los Angeles-based non-profit organization originally began rehabbing single resident occupancy hotels in 1989 to address homelessness that resulted from razing the hotels that were originally built in the mid 19th century to house workers who came to the coast to build railroads.

In 1996, Skid Row Housing Trust received a HUD grant and began to construct buildings from the ground up that offered on-site services through a funding partnership with the Department of Health, which operates public hospitals and medical clinics throughout Los Angeles County. After seeing homeless residents repeatedly come into the hospitals and clinics with issues related to or made worse due to homelessness, the DOH, told Skid Row Housing Trust, “we wish we could write a prescription for a home,” said Dobson. Though a subsidy pool of funds, Skid Row Housing Trust provides the housing and the DOH subsidizes on-site case management.

Star Apartments, which opened in 2013, with the DOH’s Housing for Health offices within it, “represents so much in our evolution as a permanent supportive housing partner,” said Dobson.

The concept caught on in dozens of cities across the country including Fall River. Mary Camara, the city’s coordinator of Homeless Programs and Rosa Medeiros, director of First Step Inn (the city’s emergency shelter), launched the first Project Homeless Connect seven years ago. Held annually at the Commonwealth Center at Bristol Community College, the event brings together services and agencies to help the homeless including Catholic Social Services, Citizens for Citizens, Fall River Housing Authority, Veteran’s Affairs Office, mental health providers and the Registry of Motor Vehicles to provide identification cars. Walmart provides vision tests and backpacks filled with health and beauty products, said Camara. At past events, dental hygienists were on site for teeth cleaning and the Rob Roy Academy gave out gift certificates for haircuts.

On average, Camara said about 225 people in need avail themselves of the services at the event.

Haircuts for the homeless

The Fall River-based grassroots group Hearts of Hope isn’t shy about seeing a need in the community and lending a hand. Sisters Luci and Alicia Vitorino started the non-profit group a few years ago giving out bagged lunches to homeless people on the street. From there, the Hearts of Hope volunteers’ collections for the homeless have included towels, teething rings, toiletries and Fall River public school Spirit Wear uniforms.

When Luci, a volunteer at the city’s overflow homeless shelter, realized there hadn’t been any haircut nights at the shelter this year, she enlisted the help of Salon Vogue owner Lina Sousa, stylists Stephanie Manteiga, Jessica Martins and Bobby Sousa, from Gentleman’s Quarters. On Feb. 19, they set up four hairstylist stations at the shelter and more than half the residents got haircuts, buzz cuts and even a few blowouts. “You could tell some guests were weary but the staff was very professional and made people feel at ease,” said Luci Vitorino.

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless

Through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program, families receive up to $4,000 to help pay startup expenses such as first or last month’s rent, moving costs. Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless advocated expansion of the program to aid homeless individuals without children including the elderly, disabled and unaccompanied youth. The Legislature allocated $13 million into the RAFT program in its 2017 budget with $500,000 of it going to the pilot program for individuals without children, said Kelly Turley. Director of Legislative Advocacy at Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.

This year, the advocacy group is urging the Legislature to fully fund the program at $18.5 million; with $4 million of that going to individuals without children, she said.